Photographic print processing basket

ABSTRACT

A photographic print processing basket having compartments for photosensitive films provided by a pair of facing end walls and a plurality of mesh walls of plastic material arranged in spaced parallel planes between the end walls and molded therein. A center plate is disposed between the end walls in a plane normal to the facing surfaces thereof. The end walls are screwed to the center plate. The bottoms of the compartments are blocked by a perforate plate member screwed to the center plate. The center plate has a handle secured along the upper edge thereof to extend outwardly from the basket. A print hold down device is provided selectively to block egress of the photosensitive films from the top of the compartments, one form thereof being frictionally secured to the handle and another form thereof comprising wire bails hingedly secured to the upper ends of the end walls and capable of movement between a position blocking the upper ends of the compartment and a position enabling access thereto for insertion and removal of the photosensitive films.

United States Patent [191 Hill [ Dec. 18, 1973 [22] Filed:

1 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT PROCESSING BASKET Sept. 20, 1972 [21 Appl. No.1290,487

[52] US. Cl. 95/100, 95/98 [51] Int. Cl. G03d 3/00 [58] Field of Search95/97, 98, 100

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,199,431 9/1965 Hill95/100 3,657,990 4/1972 Wilhelm i 95/98- 2 892,393 (1/1959 Hixon et al.5/100 2,845,852 8/1958 Parker 95/100 1,661,378 3/1928 McKellar 95/1003.503.319 3/1970 Buechner 95/100 3.180243 4/1965 Siskind et a1. 5/98FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6,841 9/1912 Great Britain 95/98 30.09210/1956 Germany 5/100 Primary Examiner-Richard M. Sheer Atmmeyl. lrvingSilverman et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A photographic print processing basket havingcompartments for photosensitive films provided by a pair of facing endwalls and a plurality of mesh walls of plastic material arranged inspaced parallel planes between the end walls and molded therein. Acenter plate is disposed between the end walls in a plane normal to thefacing surfaces thereof. The end walls are screwed to the center plate.The bottoms of the compartments are blocked by a perforate plate memberscrewed to the center plate. The center plate has a handle secured alongthe upper edge thereof to extend outwardly from the basket. A print holddown device is provided selectively to block egress of thephotosensitive films from the top of the compartments, one form thereofbeing frictionally secured to the handle and another form thereofcomprising wire bails hingedly secured to the upper ends of the endwalls and capable of movement between a position blocking the upper endsof the compartment and a position enabling access thereto for insertionand removal of thc photosensitive films.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures i PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT PROCESSING BASKETFIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to print basketsfor use in processing photosensitive sheets and more particularlyrelates to a novel construction for a print processing basketcharacterized by improved ease of assembly and disassembly and improvedhandling characteristics.

This invention is an improvement upon the print basket described andclaimed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,431 granted Aug. 10, 1965.

Print baskets of the general character with which the invention isconcerned are used in large volume processing of photosensitive sheets,such as would be the case in commercial photographic printing anddeveloping. The basket is provided with a plurality of individualcompartments open at the upper ends thereof into which one or more.photographic sheets are inserted for immersion in the processingsolutions. Prior to the aforesaid patent, the compartments were formedby means of sheets of mesh material such as stainless steel or plasticmaterials which were resistant to the processing solution. Prior printbasket constructions are intended to permit increased numbers ofphotographic sheets to be processed simultaneously without departingfrom the standard sizes and shapes. Because of the use of stainlesssteel to form the frames of earlier baskets, the structures wereexpensive and somewhat awkward to use. In using mesh material,considerable difficulty was encountered in mounting the individualsheets of said material and supporting the same sheets in the basketstructure in sufficiently taut condition to prevent their collapse uponthe treated films. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,431, there was provided aprint basket in which the compartments of the photosensitive films wereformed by means of at least one prefabricated insert unit, the insertunit comprising a pair of molded end bar members having plastic meshmaterial supported therebetween in parallel, vertically arranged planesspaced apart to provide the walls of the compartments. The compartmentswere open at the upper ends thereof with the lateral ends of the meshwalls being molded in'the end bars so as to be rigidly heldin spacedapart arrangement. Multiple I inserts were mounted in a framework 'toform the basket, the mesh walls being maintained under tension.

ln the'patented print basket, handles provided on the print basketframework were utilized selectively to retain the photosensitive filmwithin the compartments while the bottom ends of the compartments wereblocked by means of a cord threaded along the bottom end of the meshwalls to prevent film from falling out of the compartments and yet notblocking the passage of processing solution through the compartments.Once assembled, the inserts could not be disassembled for repairing, forexample.

Notwithstanding the advantages of the print basket construction of U.S.Pat. No. 3,199,431, a simplified construction is desirable. For example,it would be advantageous to provide units which are more easilymanipulated and more readily capable of assembly and disassembly,- andfurther, to' provide improved means for retaining the photosensitivefilms within the compartments. It would be advantageous also to obviatethe necessity for providing a separate framework for handling therespective insert portions of the structure de- 2 scribed in mypatentwithout loss in any of the advantages afforded by said patentedprint basket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A photographic print basket comprising asubstantially rectangular frame formed of a pair of facing plastic endwalls and a rectangular plate disposed between said end walls andremovably secured thereto. Mesh wall members are molded in said endwalls extending therebetween in parallel spaced planes on both sides ofthe plate to define compartments capable of receiving photosensitivesheets. Handle means are secured to the plate at the upper edge thereofand extending outwardly therefrom. Means are provided at the top andbottom of the compartments to retain said'photosensitive sheets thereinduring processing.

The handle means may take the form of a U-shaped wire having its freeends secured to said plate or a U- shaped formation integral with saidplate. Where the U-shaped wire is used, grommet means may be providedfor facilitating securement of said wire handle to the central plate.Spring biased print hold down means are provided at the top of saidcompartments in the form of a pair of. integral hinged bails havingangled free ends seated within suitable passages formed in oppositeedges of each end wall. Alternatively, a separate hold down means in theform of a spreadable wire formation can be seated over the tops of thecompartments transversely bridging the mesh walls and frictionallysecured to the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the printbasket constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower half of the printbasket with portions broken away to show interior construction.

I FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the print basket illustrated inFIG. 1 with portions broken away to interior construction.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged section taken along lines 3A of FIG. 3 viewed inthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of a modified embodiment of theinvention, portions being broken away to show interior detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,as illustrated in FIG.

I l, a print processing basket embodying the invention is designatedgenerally by reference character 10. The basket 10 is comprised of agenerally open rectangular frame formed of a pair of spaced facingplastic end walls 12 and 14, and a substantially rectangular plate 16disposed vertically between the end walls 12 and 14. Preferably, the endwalls 12 and 14 are secured to the plate 16 at a location intermediatethe long edges thereof by fastening means such as screws 17 beingreceived in sockets 18. The sockets 18 are provided in photosensitivefilm for introduction into the various chemical solutions used inphotographic film processing and developing procedures.

A bottom plate 24, preferably of channel-shaped configuration is securedto the lower edge of the plate 16 by suitable fastening means, such asscrews 26, engaged in threaded sockets 28, formed or otherwise providedin said lower edge. The channel member 24 includes longitudinal flanges30 arranged to engage the lower edges of the mesh walls 20 along thebottom of the basket to protect same against tearing. The channel member24 is perforated, such as by the plurality of openings 32 arranged topermit passage of processing fluid while preventing photosensitive filmsor sheets falling from the compartments 22 during processing.

The mesh walls are molded permanently to the end walls 12 and 14 inaccordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,431, and preferablyare formed of a suitable material such as vinylidene chloride resin, astaught therein. The end walls 12 and 14, as well as plate 16 preferablyare formed of a thermosetting epoxy resin. The sockets l8, threaded toaccommodate screws 17, are seated in the plate opening to opposite edges36 for axial alignment with the apertures 19 of the end bars 12 and 14.The type of epoxy resin composition used for the end bars 12 and 14 andthe plate 16 is selected from those epoxy resins which are chemicallyinert relative to the various chemical solutions used, and also whichpreferably can be cured satisfactorily at room temperature.

A pair of spaced keyholes 38 are formed in said plate 16 with the legs40 thereof opening to the upper edge of plate 16. The annular inner wall42 of keyholes 38 have a V profile configuration for seating of aplastic disc 44 therein, said disc having a matching or conforming outerannular circumferential formation 46 A wire handle 48 of substantiallyU-shaped configuration having free ends 50 is provided and secured tothe plate so that the bight thereof extends outward of the basket 10. InFIG. 1, the height of plate 16 is less than the height of end bars 12and 14 so that the handle 48 does not extend too far above theprocessing tank so as to prevent'the use of light-tight covers. Theplastic disc 44 has an axial passageway 52 formed therein and alsocarries a transverse passageway 54 intersecting axial passageway 52 andopening at least at one end to the annular formation 46. Transversepassageway 54 is of size and configuration frictionally to receive thefree ends 50 of handle 48. The disc 44 is fitted forcibly into keyhole38 with the transverse passageway 54 aligned with leg 40, so thatpassageway 54 opens to the edge of plate 16. The free ends 50 of handle48 are inserted in transverse passageway 54 to bridge the axialpassageway 52. The free ends 50 are upset or otherwise deformed at theportion thereof which intersects the axial passageway 52, as shown at56, permanently to secure the handle 48 to plate 16.

Print hold down means are provided in the form of a pair of Ushaped wirebails 58 (see FIG. 1) having bent free ends 60 fixedlysecured in bores62 formed in the upper ends of the respective end walls 12 and 14 andopening to the long edges 64 thereof. The bores 62 may be angled and thefree ends 60 likewise angled to apply increased spring tension to thebails. The bails 58 are pivotable about their free ends and are undertension to maintain their position, being movable to block v the upperends of the compartments 22 by engagement against the upper edges of themesh walls 20 and movable out of their interfering position to gainaccess to said compartments.

In FIG. 4, a modified embodiment of the print basket in accordance withthe invention is designated generally by reference character 10'. It issubstantially identical to print basket 10 except the handle 48 isreplaced by an integral molded handle 48' unitary with the plate 16; theheight of the center plate 16' is approximately the height of the endwalls 12 and 14 and the hold down means takes the form of a spreadablewire formation in lieu of the bails 58 carried by basket 10. The wireformation 70 is formed by a pair of spaced U-shaped wires72 welded tobridging wires 74 and 74 which are slightly bowed at a location midwaybetween their ends. Each wire 74 and 74' has a matching V-shaped bendintermediate the ends thereof with the wires 74 and 74' arranged in suchdisposition that the bends extend outward in opposite directions. Thelegs of said wires 74 and 74 are slightly divergent so that they arespaced apart a slightly greater distance at their welded connection tothe wire members 72 than adjacent their respective V bends. This enablesthe V-bend to be pulled in opposite directions to spread the wires 74and 74' enabling the integral handle 48' to pass therebetween. The wires74 and 74 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to enable thefrictional engagement of the handle 48' therewith. The length of thebight of wires 72 is selected to enable the free ends to embrace theouter mesh walls 20 of basket 10 when the formation 70 is engaged uponsaid handle 48.

The basket 10 or 10 may be used singly or in multiple array. In theillustrated embodiments, one plate is shown dividing the basket into apair of sections, each carrying plural compartments. Additional platesmay be used with one carrying the handle without departing from thescope of the described invention. In lieu of the keyholes and discs 38and 44, the free ends 50 of handle 48 may be cemented or otherwisesecured within suitable passageways formed in the plate 16, adjacent anopening to the longitudinal upper edge thereof. The plate 16 may besecured to the end walls 12 and 14 by cementing same instead of screwingthe walls together although then, permanent assembly results.

What itis desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

. l. A photographic print basket for receiving photosensitive sheets forprocessing, said print basket comprising a pair of vertically disposedend walls, a plurality of flexible, untensioned mesh walls arrangedbetween said end walls and fixedly secured thereto and extending inspaced, substantially parallel planes to define a plurality ofcompartments for receiving photosensitive sheets dur-ing processingthereof, a generally rectangular frame member of a predetermined widthvertically disposed between and in a plane normal to said end walls,means removably securing said rectangular frame member to said end wallsto hold said end walls in predetermined spaced apart relation to placesaid mesh walls secured to said end walls under tension, and bottomsupport means for maintaining said photosensitive sheets within saidcompartments during processing.

2. The photographic print basket defined in claim 1 wherein saidplurality of initially untensioned flexible mesh walls are molded tosaid end walls.

3. The print basket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom supportmeans for maintaining the photosensitive sheets within said compartmentscomprise a perforate member removably secured to said frame member alongthe bottom edge thereof, the width of said perforate member beingselected sufficient to block egress from the bottom ends of saidcompartments.

4. The print basket as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a handle onsaid frame member, means above the photosensitive sheets for maintainingthe same within said compartments said last named means including aremovable wire cover frictionally engageable with said handle and havingbridging members at opposite ends thereof engageable with the outermostof said mesh walls to block access to the upper ends of saidcompartments.

5. The print basket as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means abovethe photosensitive sheets for maintaining the same within saidcompartments said last named means including wire bails each having freeends hingedly secured to said end walls, said free ends includingangularly bent portions and said end walls having passageways forreceiving said bent portions, said bails being'under spring tensionwhereby to maintain any selected positioning of said bails.

6. The print basket as directed in claim 1 in which said frame memberhas handle means extending outwardly of said basket a distancesufficient to enable grasping thereof from the exterior of said basket.

7. The print basket as claimed in claim 6 in which said handle meanscomprises a U-shaped wire member having freeends secured to said framemember along the upper edge thereof.

8. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 wherein said frame member hasa pair of spaced keyholes formed therein and including an enlargedportion and a leg opening to the upper edge of said frame member andsaid free ends of said wire member are secured within said keyholes.

9. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 wherein said frame member hasa pair of spaced keyholes formed therein and including an enlargedportion inward of the upper edge of the frame member and communicatingthereto by way of a leg, the free ends of said wire member entering saidportion by way of said leg and each of said free ends having a deformedportion disposed within said enlarged portion.

10. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 wherein said frame member hasa pair of spaced keyholes formed therein and including an enlargedportion and a leg portion communicating therefrom to the upper edge'ofsaid frame member, said enlarged portion defined by an annular innerwall, a disc adapted to be seated within said enlarged portion andhaving an outer circumferential wall cooperating conforming formationson said disc and inner wall to enable retention of said disc within saidenlarged keyhole portion, said disc carrying an axial passageway and atransverse passageway extending diametrically outward of said axialpassageway opening to at least one end of said transverse passagewayopening to the outer circumfernetial wall of the disc, said disc beingengaged within said enlarged portion with said transverse passageopening to the upper edge of said frame member and aligned with saidleg, the transverse passage being selected of size and configuration toreceive the free ends of said wire member therethrough interceptingrelation to said axial passageway and a deformed portion formed alongsaid free ends to retain same within said axial passageway.

11. The print basket as claimed in claim 10 in which said cooperatingconforming formations comprise a V- shaped formation on said annular anda V-shaped groove on the outer circumferential wall of said disc wherebysaid disc is capable of being tightly received within said enlargedportion of said keyhole.

12. A photographic print basket as defined in claim 1 wherein saidrectangular frame means secured to said end walls to place said meshwalls under tension comprises a flat plate member.

1. A photographic print basket for receiving photosensitive sheets forprocessing, said print basket comprising a pair of vertically disposedend walls, a plurality of flexible, untensioned mesh walls arrangedbetween said end walls and fixedly secured thereto and extending inspaced, substantially parallel planes to define a plurality ofcompartments for receiving photosensitive sheets during processingthereof, a generally rectangular frame member of a predetermined widthvertically disposed between and in a plane normal to said end walls,means removably securing said rectangular frame member to said end wallsto hold said end walls in predetermined spaced apart relation to placesaid mesh walls secured to said end walls under tension, and bottomsupport means for maintaining said photosensitive sheets within saidcompartments during processing.
 2. The photographic print basket definedin claim 1 wherein said plurality of initially untensioned flexible meshwalls are molded to said end walls.
 3. The print basket as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said bottom support means for maintaining thephotosensitive sheets within said compartments comprise a perforatemember removably secured to said frame member along the bottom edgethereof, the width of said perforate member being selected sufficient toblock egress from the bottom ends of said compartments.
 4. The printbasket as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a handle on said framemember, means above the photosensitive sheets for maintaining the samewithin said compartments said last named means including a removablewire cover frictionally engageable with said handle and having bridgingmembers at oPposite ends thereof engageable with the outermost of saidmesh walls to block access to the upper ends of said compartments. 5.The print basket as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means abovethe photosensitive sheets for maintaining the same within saidcompartments said last named means including wire bails each having freeends hingedly secured to said end walls, said free ends includingangularly bent portions and said end walls having passageways forreceiving said bent portions, said bails being under spring tensionwhereby to maintain any selected positioning of said bails.
 6. The printbasket as directed in claim 1 in which said frame member has handlemeans extending outwardly of said basket a distance sufficient to enablegrasping thereof from the exterior of said basket.
 7. The print basketas claimed in claim 6 in which said handle means comprises a U-shapedwire member having free ends secured to said frame member along theupper edge thereof.
 8. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 whereinsaid frame member has a pair of spaced keyholes formed therein andincluding an enlarged portion and a leg opening to the upper edge ofsaid frame member and said free ends of said wire member are securedwithin said keyholes.
 9. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 whereinsaid frame member has a pair of spaced keyholes formed therein andincluding an enlarged portion inward of the upper edge of the framemember and communicating thereto by way of a leg, the free ends of saidwire member entering said portion by way of said leg and each of saidfree ends having a deformed portion disposed within said enlargedportion.
 10. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 wherein said framemember has a pair of spaced keyholes formed therein and including anenlarged portion and a leg portion communicating therefrom to the upperedge of said frame member, said enlarged portion defined by an annularinner wall, a disc adapted to be seated within said enlarged portion andhaving an outer circumferential wall cooperating conforming formationson said disc and inner wall to enable retention of said disc within saidenlarged keyhole portion, said disc carrying an axial passageway and atransverse passageway extending diametrically outward of said axialpassageway opening to at least one end of said transverse passagewayopening to the outer circumfernetial wall of the disc, said disc beingengaged within said enlarged portion with said transverse passageopening to the upper edge of said frame member and aligned with saidleg, the transverse passage being selected of size and configuration toreceive the free ends of said wire member therethrough interceptingrelation to said axial passageway and a deformed portion formed alongsaid free ends to retain same within said axial passageway.
 11. Theprint basket as claimed in claim 10 in which said cooperating conformingformations comprise a V-shaped formation on said annular and a V-shapedgroove on the outer circumferential wall of said disc whereby said discis capable of being tightly received within said enlarged portion ofsaid keyhole.
 12. A photographic print basket as defined in claim 1wherein said rectangular frame means secured to said end walls to placesaid mesh walls under tension comprises a flat plate member.